The Tape Preamp is a summary of the preamps found in some legendary tape echoes. These preamps, known for their use without the echo part by many musicians to push the input of their amp, allows to bring a unique coloration with a particular texture.
For more possibilities, we decided to redesign the circuit in order to offer more features and textures, while keeping the spirit of the original circuit. The Tape Preamp can be used as a simple colored boost, or as an overdrive. It can also go from broken velcro-like console preamp tones to natural and open crunches thanks to the adjustable dynamic range.
The pedal also works well with clean delays, adding a lo-fi and filtered voicing to the repeats that evokes old delay technologies.
connections
Be sure to use mono jacks to connect the pedal. Use only a 9VDC negative center power supply, the pedal generates 27V itself internally.
the settings
The Tape Preamp has 3 simple settings, but they offer a wide range of textures.
louder
Acts on both the volume and the gain of the preamp. At minimum, a subtle colored tone, at maximum, a rich and thick saturation, with a volume boost.
dynamic
Varies the power supply voltage of the circuit, and shifts the bias of the JFET. At the minimum, a 3V voltage and unadjusted bias, for a velcro preamp reminding old broken vintage consoles. At the maximum, 27V headroom and a perfectly calibrated bias, for an open and dynamic preamp, which will respond to the attack.
bass
A bass cut, for a thick and dirty preamp, or a more punchy and clear sound. Up, the voicing of the original preamp, with thick and dirty bass. Down, less bass for a more balanced tone. In the middle, a bass cut, for more precision and presence.
application examples
signal chain
The Tape Preamp is a preamp designed to drive the input of an amplifier, so it is preferable to place it at the end of the drive chain, to shape the signal before going to the amp. It can also be placed before amp in a box pedals that are used as amps. When placed before a delay, it reproduces the classic internal chain of a tape echo, bringing warmth and a slight degradation of the repeats.
As always, there are no strict rules, the best thing to do is to experiment with different chainings and find your ideal configuration.
our settings
dynamic boost
Dynamic set to maximum for optimal headroom, and Bass switch in the middle for bass cut and more precision. Louder is adjusted according to the desired output level and the kind of guitar used.
gated preamp
Dynamic at 1/4 for a compressed sound and an unbalanced bias, and Bass switch up for dirty lows. Louder is adjusted according to the output level of the guitar.
organic overdrive
Dynamic at 2/3 for a dynamic sound with subtle compression, Bass switch down for a rich, nicely balanced sound in the mix, and Louder at noon for a light saturation.
questions about our pedals
questions specific to the tape preamp
the pedal makes noise when I turn the knobs
The Tape Preamp is inspired by vintage schematics, which have their own defaults that contribute to the sound of the circuit. Crackling noise when turning the Louder knob comes from the original design of the circuit, so don’t worry, once the pedal is set, the noise is no longer present. As for the Dynamic, it acts on the power supply of the circuit which implies, in a normal way, voltage jumps in the circuit.
the volume drops when I cut the bass on the pedal
The Bass switch of the Tape Preamp acts as a bass cut, which will cut a part of the frequencies, which gives the impression of a less massive sound and thus a feeling of lower volume quite normal. Bass cut allows you to better place your sound in a band, you just have to readjust the settings.
I can’t get a clean boost
The Tape Preamp is a JFET preamp which is designed to color the sound, even on the most subtle settings. It is therefore not a clean boost, nor a transparent boost!
questions specific to the fx teacher range
exchangeable 3pdt
The footswitch is the most sensitive element in a pedal. After many years of intensive use, it can break, making the pedal unusable. That’s why we developed an exchangeable footswitch system, which allows you to replace a broken footswitch without having to use a soldering iron. Of course we sell replacement footswitch modules, with the classic 3PDT true bypass with click, or a true bypass module using a soft touch footswitch and a relay, more resistant.
true bypass 3pdt and relay modules
my pedal makes a very loud buzz
The aluminium enclosure is connected to the ground by the jacks, allowing to isolate the circuit from any external perturbation. The enclosure being painted, the contact is only made if the jacks are correctly screwed to the enclosure. If with time a nut loosens, a strong buzz can appear, just tighten the nuts, being careful not to damage the enclosure!
my pedal does not turn on
First, make sure that the correct power supply is connected to the pedal. All of our pedals run on 9V DC negative center. Our newest pedals include a complete protection system that cuts off the power supply in case of over-voltage or reverse polarity. Then check that a jack is plugged into the input of the pedal, and that the jack used is a MONO jack. If it is not, the power supply does not pass.
enjoy your new tape preamp!
Now that you know everything about the Tape Preamp, we hope you’ll make good use of it, and that it will fit perfectly with your pedalboard. Feel free to share your experience about your Tape Preamp on social networks!
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fx teacher tape preamp user manual
the origin of the tape preamp
The Tape Preamp is a summary of the preamps found in some legendary tape echoes. These preamps, known for their use without the echo part by many musicians to push the input of their amp, allows to bring a unique coloration with a particular texture.
For more possibilities, we decided to redesign the circuit in order to offer more features and textures, while keeping the spirit of the original circuit. The Tape Preamp can be used as a simple colored boost, or as an overdrive. It can also go from broken velcro-like console preamp tones to natural and open crunches thanks to the adjustable dynamic range.
The pedal also works well with clean delays, adding a lo-fi and filtered voicing to the repeats that evokes old delay technologies.
connections
Be sure to use mono jacks to connect the pedal.
Use only a 9VDC negative center power supply, the pedal generates 27V itself internally.
the settings
The Tape Preamp has 3 simple settings, but they offer a wide range of textures.
louder
Acts on both the volume and the gain of the preamp. At minimum, a subtle colored tone, at maximum, a rich and thick saturation, with a volume boost.
dynamic
Varies the power supply voltage of the circuit, and shifts the bias of the JFET. At the minimum, a 3V voltage and unadjusted bias, for a velcro preamp reminding old broken vintage consoles. At the maximum, 27V headroom and a perfectly calibrated bias, for an open and dynamic preamp, which will respond to the attack.
bass
A bass cut, for a thick and dirty preamp, or a more punchy and clear sound.
Up, the voicing of the original preamp, with thick and dirty bass.
Down, less bass for a more balanced tone.
In the middle, a bass cut, for more precision and presence.
application examples
signal chain
The Tape Preamp is a preamp designed to drive the input of an amplifier, so it is preferable to place it at the end of the drive chain, to shape the signal before going to the amp. It can also be placed before amp in a box pedals that are used as amps. When placed before a delay, it reproduces the classic internal chain of a tape echo, bringing warmth and a slight degradation of the repeats.
As always, there are no strict rules, the best thing to do is to experiment with different chainings and find your ideal configuration.
our settings
dynamic boost
Dynamic set to maximum for optimal headroom, and Bass switch in the middle for bass cut and more precision. Louder is adjusted according to the desired output level and the kind of guitar used.
gated preamp
Dynamic at 1/4 for a compressed sound and an unbalanced bias, and Bass switch up for dirty lows. Louder is adjusted according to the output level of the guitar.
organic overdrive
Dynamic at 2/3 for a dynamic sound with subtle compression, Bass switch down for a rich, nicely balanced sound in the mix, and Louder at noon for a light saturation.
questions about our pedals
questions specific to the tape preamp
the pedal makes noise when I turn the knobs
The Tape Preamp is inspired by vintage schematics, which have their own defaults that contribute to the sound of the circuit. Crackling noise when turning the Louder knob comes from the original design of the circuit, so don’t worry, once the pedal is set, the noise is no longer present. As for the Dynamic, it acts on the power supply of the circuit which implies, in a normal way, voltage jumps in the circuit.
the volume drops when I cut the bass on the pedal
The Bass switch of the Tape Preamp acts as a bass cut, which will cut a part of the frequencies, which gives the impression of a less massive sound and thus a feeling of lower volume quite normal. Bass cut allows you to better place your sound in a band, you just have to readjust the settings.
I can’t get a clean boost
The Tape Preamp is a JFET preamp which is designed to color the sound, even on the most subtle settings. It is therefore not a clean boost, nor a transparent boost!
questions specific to the fx teacher range
exchangeable 3pdt
The footswitch is the most sensitive element in a pedal. After many years of intensive use, it can break, making the pedal unusable. That’s why we developed an exchangeable footswitch system, which allows you to replace a broken footswitch without having to use a soldering iron. Of course we sell replacement footswitch modules, with the classic 3PDT true bypass with click, or a true bypass module using a soft touch footswitch and a relay, more resistant.
my pedal makes a very loud buzz
The aluminium enclosure is connected to the ground by the jacks, allowing to isolate the circuit from any external perturbation. The enclosure being painted, the contact is only made if the jacks are correctly screwed to the enclosure. If with time a nut loosens, a strong buzz can appear, just tighten the nuts, being careful not to damage the enclosure!
my pedal does not turn on
First, make sure that the correct power supply is connected to the pedal. All of our pedals run on 9V DC negative center. Our newest pedals include a complete protection system that cuts off the power supply in case of over-voltage or reverse polarity.
Then check that a jack is plugged into the input of the pedal, and that the jack used is a MONO jack. If it is not, the power supply does not pass.
enjoy your new tape preamp!
Now that you know everything about the Tape Preamp, we hope you’ll make good use of it, and that it will fit perfectly with your pedalboard. Feel free to share your experience about your Tape Preamp on social networks!